ROCHESTER — Three people were seriously injured, two of whom were airlifted to Maine Medical Center Tuesday evening, after a four-vehicle crash near Exit 15 of the Spaulding Turnpike.

Karen Fare, 34, of Manchester was taken from the scene of the crash by a DHART helicopter with life threatening injuries. Xiaowel Wang, 39, of Portsmouth, was initially taken from the scene to Frisbie Memorial Hospital but was later also transported by a DHART helicopter to Maine Maine Medical Center.

According to a press release early this morning from Troop A State Police updating information from last evening, the crash occured at approximately 6:46 p.m.

The report, by Trooper Steve Wheeler, says a 2003 Honda Accord operated by Wang was headed north near Exit 15 when the vehicle drifted across the center yellow line in the the southbound lane. The fist vehicle struck was a 2002 Ford F-150 pickup driven by Steve Hemeon, 55, of Milton. This caused the 2003 Honda to drift back into the northbound lane. As Wang attempted to gain control of her car, she over corrected and sent her car into a sideways slide. Crossing into the southbound lane again. she struck a 1996 Nissan Maxima operated by Fare. This impact pushed the Nissan off the roadway and caused the Honda to rotate 180 degrees. The Honda then struck a 1997 Jeep Cherokee driven by Eli Moryoussef, 34, of Kittery, Maine.

Erika Otte, 21, a passenger in the Jeep, was transported to Frisbie Hospital with serious injuries.

Police said it does not appear speed or alcohol were factors but the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the crash should contact Trooper Matthew Locke at 603-223-8490 or email Matthew.Locke@dos.nh.gov.

ROCHESTER — A severe three-vehicle crash on the Spaulding Turnpike early Tuesday night required a DHART helicopter to land in the center of the highway before a woman in critical condition was transported to Maine Medical Center.

Two other people were transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital — both with life-threatening injuries. It's not known if either of those individuals, one a 39-year-old woman, was or will be transferred to a different medical facility.

At 6:45 p.m., officials reported a red sedan headed north on the turnpike crossed the center line near Exit 15, striking a southbound black sedan head-on.

The red vehicle spun around 180 degrees, according to New Hampshire State Police Sgt Steve Wheeler, while a green Jeep, headed south behind the black sedan, also crashed.

Makes and models of the vehicles were not readily available. New Hampshire State Police on scene could not confirm the victim's identities but reported there was one person inside each vehicle at the time of the crash.

A female was extricated from the red sedan at approximately 7:12 p.m. and another from the black sedan at 7:15 p.m. Officials said they used numerous hydraulic tools to remove the individuals.

The female from the red vehicle was taken to Frisbie while the woman from the black vehicle was treated inside an ambulance which stayed on scene until the helicopter arrived.

A DHART helicopter landed at approximately 7:45 p.m. and the woman was transported to Maine Medical at approximately 8:10 p.m.

Assistant Director of Frisbie Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Gary Brock reported the woman was in "as stable a condition as she could be," given her critical condition. He described her as a multitrauma patient who required four paramedics, one flight medic and one flight nurse for her injuries.

Limited information was available following the crash on what sparked the incident. Wheeler said officials are investigating what caused the red sedan to cross the center line and head into oncoming traffic.

Traffic remained backed up on both directions of Route 16 until approximately 8:30 p.m. Some gathered on the side of the road to watch as approximately eight firefighters from the Rochester Fire Department swarmed the black vehicle, working quickly to remove the trapped woman.

The red sedan sustained heavy front and rear damage, as the green Jeep remained lodged in the back of the car. The black vehicle rested to the side of highway and appeared crushed after emergency responders worked to saw the top half of the car off to remove the woman.

Officials walking back and forth between emergency vehicles said this accident was one of the worst they had ever seen.

Some passing on the highway had their cell phones out to take photos of the arriving helicopter.

Rochester fire and police departments, as well as the Farmington Police Department, responded, in addition to state police and Frisbie EMS.